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The Impact of Intolerance of Uncertainty on Negative Emotions in COVID-19: Mediation by Pandemic-Focused Time and Moderation by Perceived Efficacy

Author

Listed:
  • Weine Dai

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    CFIN and PET Center, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
    Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
    Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research, Beijing 101408, China)

  • Guangteng Meng

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)

  • Ya Zheng

    (Department of Psychology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China)

  • Qi Li

    (Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China)

  • Bibing Dai

    (Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China)

  • Xun Liu

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)

Abstract

The COVID-19 global pandemic has resulted in a large number of people suffering from emotional problems. However, the mechanisms by which intolerance of uncertainty (IU) affects negative emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the mediating role of pandemic-focused time and the moderating role of perceived efficacy in the association between IU and negative emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic based on the uncertainty-time-efficacy-emotion model (UTEE). 1131 participants were recruited to complete measures of COVID-19 IU, pandemic-focused time, perceived efficacy, negative emotions and demographic variables during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that COVID-19 IU was significantly and positively associated with negative emotions, and this link could be mediated by pandemic-focused time. Moreover, the direct effect of COVID-19 IU on negative emotions was moderated by perceived efficacy. Specifically, the direct effect of COVID-19 IU on negative emotions was much stronger for individuals with lower levels of perceived efficacy. The current study further extended the previous integrative uncertainty tolerance model. Furthermore, the study suggested that policy makers and mental health professionals should reduce the general public’s negative emotions during the pandemic through effective interventions such as adjusting COVID-19 IU, shortening pandemic-focused time and enhancing perceived efficacy.

Suggested Citation

  • Weine Dai & Guangteng Meng & Ya Zheng & Qi Li & Bibing Dai & Xun Liu, 2021. "The Impact of Intolerance of Uncertainty on Negative Emotions in COVID-19: Mediation by Pandemic-Focused Time and Moderation by Perceived Efficacy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:4189-:d:536718
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Qi Li & Ronglei Luo & Xiaoya Zhang & Guangteng Meng & Bibing Dai & Xun Liu, 2021. "Intolerance of COVID-19-Related Uncertainty and Negative Emotions among Chinese Adolescents: A Moderated Mediation Model of Risk Perception, Social Exclusion and Perceived Efficacy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Sijia Li & Yilin Wang & Jia Xue & Nan Zhao & Tingshao Zhu, 2020. "The Impact of COVID-19 Epidemic Declaration on Psychological Consequences: A Study on Active Weibo Users," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-9, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Adrianna Wielgopolan & Maciej Pastwa & Aleksandra Warkocka & Kamil Konrad Imbir, 2022. "Anyone but Me: Unrealistic Optimism, Emotions and Anxiety in the Face of COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Maciej Pastwa & Kamil K. Imbir & Adrianna Wielgopolan & Ernest Adach, 2023. "Predictors of Feeling of Threat Caused by COVID-19 Pandemic, the Distinctive Effects of Automatic vs. Reflective Emotions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-15, March.

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